Ford Mustang GT (4.6l) S197

[Peerzy]

Afternoon all,

Thought best to start a thread to document the bits and pieces I'll no doubt be doing to my car and show you all some new photos.

See this thread for when I purchased it.

I've been out today, had it quickly cleaned and taken a few better photos (ignore my rubbish photography skills and click to see higher resolution shots!);























In terms of a to do list a cold air intake (10p to show the size of it!) and tune will be the first mod;





I've then got some new alloys to fit (the black wheels on black car has grown on me slightly but it's still too much);



Then I've got the following planned;

• Sort out the awful condensation in the headlights
• Replace front indicators with clear glass
• Tidy up the interior with a few replacement parts
• New brake setup (stock brakes are rubbish)
• Short aerial to replace the massive standard one
• Remove the stripes, fit hood scoop and get new white GT500 stripes put on
• New aftermarket wing mirrors

Plus loads more!

I'm loving every second of it so far!

Questions and comments welcomed!

 

[Peerzy]

What's it like on fuel?

Not great.....



That's US MPG though, so roughly 16.8 UK MPG.

 

[Peerzy]

Looks stunning mate.

How are you getting on with it being left hand drive? Is it pain when overtaking etc?

LHD was a pain for about 10 minutes, now I'm completely use to it.

The only small issue I have is using slip lanes as the rear windows are tinted completely black so you can't see anything out of them, it means I often have to pull up to a junction looking like I'm going to be turning right, just so I can see enough to safely turn left!

Overtaking is not an issue as the car has so much torque, you're past them before you know it.

 

[Peerzy]

Any plans to drop the ride height a bit after fitting the new wheels? I assume the arch gap will be even more obvious with silver alloys.

It's been lowered already by 1 inch, and has adjustable coilovers I believe. Currently I'm happy with the ride height though.

I've got to ask, what's the deal with that road and that section that you are parked over? Doesn't appear safe to take photos....

On the car though, it looks great! That steering wheel would drive me mad though, needs some padding grips.

Car looks ace though. What is the cause for the condensation?

Condensation is caused when you have to drill holes in the headlights to fit sidelights for it to pass an SVA and IVA when importing into the UK. It's a bumper off job to seal them properly and will be done in the next few weeks.

Road goes to nowhere and is used at nights for truckers to sleep I believe, completely safe to take photos.

 

[Peerzy]

Ahh, I just wondered as it looks a very odd road.

Car looks so awesome! What type of bonnet scoop are you going for? You still going ahead with removing the back window tints?

Bonnet scoop has already been purchased, just needs painting and fitting. It's quite a small one.

It'll look like this;

Stunning.

Well done on getting the right car, I personally like the current stripes so be interested to see how it could be improved. Interior is the only lacking point on the whole car for me, but in all honesty the engine more than makes up for that!

Is there a better steering wheel you could retro fit? It seems really large with a thin grip on the standard one?

The current stripes are Boss302 ones but have been on for about 4 years now so are showing signs of wear and tear.

No idea on steering wheel, I get what you mean but hasn't bothered me much yet.

Did you show this at Weston SuperMare the other week? Saw one a lot like yours alongside an original mustang. Both very nice cars..

No, wouldn't take it anywhere for show at the moment - the headlights make me rage!

 

[Peerzy]

Nice motor

That interior though...that's a lot of cheap cheap plastic. Thought of getting a price to have the dash etc covered in leather?

No, it would probably be half the value of the car and it doesn't bother me as it's not what the car is about.

Good for 0-60 tests too if it's the same road I'm thinking of...

Near the A3 exit by Send, it is perfect for runs and testing the car.

 

[Peerzy]

Sadly not, an Audi A1 Sport Black Edition TDi did them

 

[Peerzy]

After a long weekend away I'm able to collect my car with a few 'improvements'!

Bullett alloys now on the car;





Headlights have been removed, resealed and the condensation should now all hopefully be gone (I'm not holding out all hope for this as it's apparently a complete nightmare to completely fix). I'm sure I'll end up having to get a new set (the current ones look a bit crap anyway).

Cold air intake and tune installed, this makes the car so much more aggressive. The throttle lag is completely gone and the car is now always straight on the power. I'm going to get some new lower control arms on the rear to help the car put the power down a bit better as it's almost caught me out a few times!

I have the inlet manifold cleaned at the same time as it was a bit jolty in 1st after a cold start.

An annoying rattle was located (screw under a seat) and removed, the windscreen wiper arms were removed and sprayed and the car had a complete brake fluid change and a check of all the pads and discs to sort a slight pull the the right under heavy breaking. Finally a power steering pipe was replaced due to a small amount of rust and the door handles were pulled apart and put back together to make sure they retract correctly.

I still need to source a relay for the fog lights as the current one is broken but apart from that I'm on my way to getting a fair few bits done.

Aside from that I've done about 1000 miles in the car since purchase and have loved every second. I can't stop grinning like a cheshire cat on crack every time I drive it.

The next few bits I'll be getting are the rear suspension (lower control arms), new wing mirrors and hopefully some new headlights if I can't sort the condensation out.

 

[Peerzy]

Nice, out of interest who did the work?

A local garage who I know very well, I actually took it down to them on Friday to go through the bits and pieces and the senior mechanic is a massive fan of American muscle so already knew how to do most of the work and why I wanted it doing.

As an added bonus they've got all the kit / laptops to read and clear the codes.

They've actually dealt with all my cars for about 5 years now and I wouldn't go anywhere else!

 

[Peerzy]

Surely they are at completely different price points?

A new RHD V8 could be close to £40k where as a really nice S197 (even with a supercharger already fitted) can be got for around £20k.

A few better images of the wheels on the car, the headlights (still a slight bit of misting up on the drivers side light) and the cold air intake installed;

Click for larger on all of them

 

[Peerzy]

The low millage; in theory, and its only theory because I know the following is not actually possible in a Mustang, would it reduce the mpg much if one was to not hard accelerate at every opportunity and to not take every long way round of getting anywhere?

No idea, I don't tend to drive it like a nutter and it's settled between 14mpg and 15mpg (USA) which works out at about 17mpg UK. The drive back from picking it up was about 40 miles, most of it the M3 which I took at 60mph as I was trying to get use to LHD and I averaged about 17mpg USA so not that much better.

 

[Peerzy]

Maybe I didn't reset the trip, or the driving either side of the M3 was horrific. Next time I go on a motorway journey I'll see what I can get.

Videos of the sound are needed!

There are some videos uploaded somewhere, if not in this thread then the original one which I've put a link to in the OP.

 

[Peerzy]

Car developed an issue last week - it wouldn't start easily from cold. It was turning but not firing, 5 or 6 attempts later and it fired up with no issues. Warn starts were perfect so we started looking at coolant sensors and similar. Turns out to be a sodding fuel pump relay! As I've not been able to get hold of one in the UK I've ordered a bunch from the USA and pinched the one for my Air Con to get the fuel pump working. Starts first every time now.

3 days without the car has just made me realise how much I love it! Getting back in it tonight and putting my foot down for the first time with the sun shining and the windows down was just one of those feelings!

 

[Peerzy]

What is it about this car that the Boxster didn't do for you?

I'm not being critical here I'm genuinely interested, I seem to be one of the only people in the world that doesn't like Muscle cars they just don't do anything for me, they don't handle, aren't that fast and don't look very good (imo) whereas a Boxster is most probably my perfect car.

It's been a dream of mine to own one since I was young. It's a slightly sentimental thing, as my Dad was in love with them and we sadly had to sell his after he pass away so I've always wanted one.

The Boxster was a much better car, but I enjoy and like the Mustang more. I've still not turned the radio on as everytime I get in the car I just pop the window down and listen to the car as I drive.

Smiles per miles the Mustang wins hands down.

My 600BHP Mustang average 16mpg US, your car is broken, RMA it.

Give it a full service, or maybe its because it is an AUTO?

Lovely looking things (well, from the front IMO, I'm not keen in the rear view tbh) - always loved looking at Gibbo's outside OC/UK.

But can't help thinking the economy is dire.


I've been running about Liverpool & Widnes today i.e.mainly local stuff keeping off motorways whilst moving empty shipping containers yet I've averaged 14mpg (UK) but with a six axle, 13.6litre automatic HGV!

Surely it should be less thirsty?

Mine is a manual, it's doing around 15MPG US at the moment - but I tend to hold onto gears longer than I should for the noise factor. I've still not been on a motorway and my driving tends to be 30 minutes in awful rush hour traffic in the morning and 30 minutes in awful rush hour traffic in the evening with a few short trips thrown in.

 

[Peerzy]

Couldn't care if my car does 7mpg, 10mpg, 20mpg or 50mpg. It's a small cost as I do so few miles and well worth it as cars are my passion.

I don't tend to pay much attention to the fuel consumption, it roughly works out at £80 of Shell V Power every 12 days or so for me so hardly an issue.

 

[Peerzy]

To be fair I think your car needs this mod

lol jk I know that's a comparo shot but seriously have you considered the induction kit upgrade?

Had an induction kit and remap (or in Mustang terms a cold air intake and tune) installed about 2 weeks ago;



Not had it on a rolling road yet but generally people say it's worth 30bhp or so. The biggest difference is the complete lack of lag on the throttle now which is a massive improvement.

Another random photo I took a few days ago;

 

[Peerzy]

Bonnet resprayed and some new stripes (now including the roof);





Got a box full of new suspension bits to go on in the new year and it's just passed the MOT with no advisories.

Driving at the moment is fun, it's obviously pretty cold and even the slightest bit of rain and it's a real struggle to keep it going the right direction.

 

[Peerzy]

Peerzy

When I had mine NA, I got it upto I think 377 or 387BHP on Powerstations dyno, was about 320 stock.

The intake and tune should have you in the 345-355 region if the tune is for Octane 93 as the yanks call it.

The next best upgrade you can do is full long tube headers, sports cats and mufflers again as the Americans call them. This will give you a further 20-30BHP/Lb/ft and put you in the 360-380BHP region.

Throttle will also be like a cable then, immense!

I still wanted more though, hence the SC kit happened!

My tune is for UK 99 RON (which leaves me with only Shell and Tesco stations).

Before I go for anymore power I would want to do brakes and handling. In this sort of weather I'm constantly wheel spinning everywhere!

 

[Peerzy]

Your best friend against wheelspin and is Steeda billet lower control arms and of course decent tyres.

My Mustang was putting near 600BHP down when I finished with suspension no issue, but stock it could light up the wheels even in 4th, the stock suspension is basic and cheap, upgrades are easy and low cost.

I've got BMR lower control arms but it's still not completely fixed it.

Nice car, but the interior looks cheap plastic

Who cares

Looks good, mind if I ask what it cost?

I was going to do mine (bonnet respray and re-stripe) earlier in the year but a new job and building work at home has meant this job has been pushed out. I'd now like to give the car a full refresh (tires, re-condition/colour wheels etc) in the new year.

Respray was £640 and stripes were £250 (both inc VAT).

 

[Peerzy]

Looks awesome. Your lights seem to have condensation issues though

I know, they were fixed but it came back. I've got a set of new headlights to go in once I get chance in the new year.